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For players fortunate enough to have secured a scholarship offer, this is the culmination of all the hours of hard work and the long trips to camps and combines.

In Columbia County, we are celebrating the biggest signing day ever. We might have had more signees in other years, but there is no doubt 2014-15 will be tough to top in terms of the quality of the recruits.

Here is a list of the players from Columbia County who will be signing today, along with players who have yet to make their decision.

While in was nice to see national honors handed out in the CSRA, and for several former pro athletes to be in town for the event, the true “headliners” of the event were the local players who were named First Team All-Area by the Chronicle. And, it was no surprise to see several Columbia County players honored. One thing that I felt county football fans should be especially proud of, is the fact that all four First Team defensive backs on the Georgia all-Area team were Columbia County players. Here is a list of the players from Columbia County who were recognized.

I admit high school basketball historical records and statistics are tough to come by. While football stats and information are readily available, it seems most basketball info prior to the mid-1980’s is almost non-existent.

Since the mid-1980’s, however, only one boys basketball player in the county has topped 2,000 career points. It is a milestone that is ultra difficult to attain. First off, you almost certainly had to, not only start, but be a key contributor for four years.

Also, for at least a couple of those years you would need to average over 25 points per contest.

On Feb. 4, I will be hosting my 19th Annual College Football Signing Day Party at Wild Wing Café on Washington Road.

In 1996, Josey High School had nine football players sign college scholarships, and they had a lunchtime banquet for the fans to come out and congratulate the players.

That day, I thought it would be great to do my radio show on Signing Day and invite all the signees in the area, so the following year our signing day party was born. The first year we held the event at our radio station studios, but quickly realized we needed a bigger room.

The WJBF Football Friday Night / Carolina Panthers All-CSRA Award Show was held Wednesday night and four players from Columbia County were among those honored. This is easily the most exclusive All-Area team for players in the CSRA with only one player from each position selected for the team out of over 60 area high school programs. That means a total of 26 players make the cut of the more than 4,000 players who play prep football in the CSRA. Each player selected to the team receives an All-CSRA Team “Championship-Style” ring from Jostens.

However, Team South Carolina was able to stop the speedy Marshall inches from the goal line, and the final seconds ticked off the clock before Team Georgia could line up for another play.

South Carolina’s win evens the yearly event at one win a piece. Several Columbia County players turned in solid performances for Team Georgia.

Lakeside’s B.J. Raymond and Stephen Houzah earned Offensive and Defensive Players of the Game, respectively. Raymond made a spectacular diving catch on a bomb from Marshall to ignite the Georgia Offense in the second half.

I was stunned because Jim was only 53 years old and he looked even younger. I had also just seen Jim a few weeks earlier and he looked great. There were no signs he would soon suffer a massive heart attack that would take his life. I was saddened because, like anyone else that knew him, I knew we were losing a class act of the first order.

Border Bowl II is only a few days away. The game will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday at Laney Memorial Stadium in Augusta. The game is the creation of WJBF-TV and features the top senior football players from around the CSRA. It is Georgia's best versus the top players South Carolina has to offer in the second annual Battle for the Paddle, with the proceeds going to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of Augusta.

Grovetown offensive lineman D'Ante Smith was in Atlanta this past week after he was selected to play in the second annual Georgia Elite Junior Classic. Only 70 of the top junior football players in the Peach State are chosen to play. Last year Columbia County was represented by Lakeside's Rashad Roundtree and Stephen Houzah.